Palm Desert Golf - Avoiding the 5 hour rounds

[Gmachine]

so i've been to palm springs (3) times recently.

 

first time, stayed at Indian Wells and played the celebrity and players course.

 

second time, stayed at Mission Hills and played both courses there.

 

just got back from staying at Shadow Ridge and played 2 rounds at that course.

 

all great courses, however, me and my buddy always get paired up with an older couple.

 

now, i know palm desert is a retirement area, so i don't mind the age, but i do mind the golfer we always get paired with that hack around the course and continue to play after taking 10 strokes around the fairway.

 

thinking that it's because we've been staying and playing at the resort courses.

 

can anyone validate this theory? we're always gentlemen but get annoyed by the 4.75 - 5 hour rounds due to slow play.

 

heading back in may and thinking maybe we will play the non-resort courses to avoid the couples-who-barely-play-golf twosomes.

 

besides validating that theory, was thinking about this course rotation for 3 days of golf:

 

- Escena Golf Club

- Silver Rock

- Desert Willow (Firecliff course)

 

any feedback/course reco's would be appreciated.

[Upper Michigan]

Fire cliff is a great course. Fire cliff is hit or miss when it comes to long rounds. Since it's right across the street from the JW Mariott hotel I think it sees a decent amount of resort type golfers.

I also recommend the classic club if the wind isn't too bad. Another challenging course where you shouldn't be subjected to 5 hour rounds.

[Dave52]

Honestly, I think it's just pure luck one way or another. I always look at golf courses as one lane roads, it only takes one jerk to slow everyone down.

I've played many times in Palm Desert, and out of maybe twenty or thirty rounds I've only had serious pacing issues a couple of times. If memory serves, both times were on the La Quinta Mountain course.

[URStillAway]

I have been really lucky. I have played about 100 rounds around Palm Desert in the past 5 years and only once have to suffer through a long round caused by someone we got matched up with. He was a poor golfer and very out of shape for a 40 year old. This was at Firecliff and climbing in and out of those deep traps was a struggle for him.

Twice this winter I got matched up with poor golfers but they had the sense to pick up after struggling on the hole and enjoyed themselves. They were fun to golf with and did not hold us up much. One pair decided to play a two ball scramble which worked out great.

I don't know if switching courses you play will help but trying out different courses each time is a good idea anyway. I have played just about all of the courses open to the public and the golfers seemed just about the same everywhere.

I have played a few of the semi-private courses and that is where you find "the grumpy old man" golfer. He has played the same course 5 days a week for 20 years and finds fault in everything. Lol. At least at the resort courses you have people out to enjoy themselves in some nice weather and scenery.


Edit to just add when we want to play 36 holes in a day we have done it at Mission Hills on both the Dye and Player course and at Indian Springs. We have tried at Terra Lago a few times but could not get the full 36 in. Tougher course that takes longer to play.

[Gmachine]

thanks for the input fellas. i don't mind playing with hacks, just as long as they are fun and know when to pick up. hey, even great golfers struggle on off-days, so i'm never one to get angry at skill.. just annoyed by lack of self-awareness.

so it sounds like it just luck of the draw. still waiting to get paired up with 2 hot female golfers.

[mringwelski]

[quote name='Gmachine' timestamp='1395597010' post='8931751']
thanks for the input fellas. i don't mind playing with hacks, just as long as they are fun and know when to pick up. hey, even great golfers struggle on off-days, so i'm never one to get angry at skill.. just annoyed by lack of self-awareness.

so it sounds like it just luck of the draw. still waiting to get paired up with 2 hot female golfers.
[/quote]

Haha you'll be waiting a long time. I've spent 3 winters here and that's just the way it is. Slow rounds with deep sea golf ball fishing with no clue how to keep an efficient pace. It's such a big vacation area that if you're going to play a public/resort course you'll most likely be behind a slow group somewhere down the line. The rangers at Silverrock seem to be somewhat tenacious but I've played a 6 1/2 hour round there too. Majority of the rangers down here are just retired folk looking for free golf and aren't as stern as they need to be. Slow play in the desert is just something you have to deal with. I'd say the best months to golf here at Nov, Dec, and April. Weather's pretty solid and I've seen Terra Lago South on Golfnow's hot deals for $5.00. No Typo. Less crowded and much more enjoyable.

[ronstelten]

I live in Palm Desert. May should prove better since most of the grey haired tourist will go home after Easter. The three courses you have picked are nice. I am a member at The Palms and host guest groups if your interested in playing one of the best courses in the valley.

[3jacker]

Dang, man. I'm from FL. 5-hr round would be awesome.

[mikes919]

Any issue getting on to any of these courses as a single? Heading to Palm Desert in May.

[URStillAway]

No, don't think so. I have gone out as a single quite a bit.

I have booked single times through Stand By Golf, Golf Now and direct with the course. Some courses only allow you to book a single direct with the course while others let you book through the online services.

They generally match you up with another twosome or three some.

[mikes919]

Never played golf out in the desert before-- what's a good tee time? Do you need to get out really early to beat the heat?

I have an 8:10 at Indian Wells, but PGA West Stadium only has 7:21 or 9:00 open on the day I want to play. I'm leaning towards 7:21, but I know I'll hate waking up that early on vacation.

[ronstelten]

May temps may hit low 100's by early afternoon but the mornings are nice. 9:00 should be OK.

[Socrates]

I feel your pain. I went through a stretch of time where [u]every[/u] time I played while on vacation, I got paired with some well aged seniors. Usually no big deal, but on one occasion it was with 3 old ladies. I was in the Rockies and it was a cold windy day (about 50ºF) and these ladies were busting it out there about 75 yards. Again no big deal. The kicker was that one of the ladies had some dementia and for some reason they let her drive her own cart. They decided to pack it in when she drove onto a green to putt out. Sad and funny all at the same time.

I was in Palm Desert in December and every round was about 5 hours.

[mikes919]

[quote name='ronstelten' timestamp='1397672007' post='9105363']
May temps may hit low 100's by early afternoon but the mornings are nice. 9:00 should be OK.
[/quote]

Great, thanks! I'm playing Marriott Shadow Ridge, Indian Wells Celebrity, and PGA West Stadium. Should be a nice little trip.

[Upper Michigan]

[quote name='mikes919' timestamp='1397676542' post='9105849']
[quote name='ronstelten' timestamp='1397672007' post='9105363']
May temps may hit low 100's by early afternoon but the mornings are nice. 9:00 should be OK.
[/quote]

Great, thanks! I'm playing Marriott Shadow Ridge, Indian Wells Celebrity, and PGA West Stadium. Should be a nice little trip.
[/quote]

When are you going to be there?

[Gmachine]

question: if you had to play one course twice, would it be Escena Club or Silver Rock (Firecliff)?

[ronstelten]

In my opinion both courses are about the same. If the price of green fees is different, play the less expensive and spend the saving at Arnold Palmer's bar. The trophy case is worth the visit.